Flower-Visiting Insects
of Smooth Blue Aster
Aster laevis (Smooth Blue Aster)
(Bees suck nectar and/or collect pollen, flies suck nectar or feed on pollen, beetles suck nectar or feed on pollen or gnaw on floral tissue, other insects suck nectar. Observations are from Graenicher, Petersen, Hilty, Swengel & Swengel, Tuell et al., and Wilhelm & Rericha as indicated below.)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apini): Apis mellifera sn (Gr, Pt, Tll, WR); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus bimaculatus (Pt), Bombus griseocollis sn (Gr), Bombus impatiens fq (Tll, WR), Bombus pensylvanicus sn (Gr), Bombus vagans sn (Gr), Psithyrus citrinus sn (Gr); Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla sn cp (Gr), Ceratina mikmaqi (WR); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus scutellaris sn (WR), Triepeolus cressonii sn (Gr), Triepeolus helianthi sn (Gr), Triepeolus lunatus concolor sn (Gr); Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes desponsa sn (Gr), Melissodes druriella (WR), Melissodes rustica sn cp (Gr); Anthophoridae (Xylocopini): Xylocopa virginica sn cp (Gr); Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys modesta sn (WR), Coelioxys moesta sn (Gr), Coelioxys octodentata sn (Gr); Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile centuncularis sn cp (Gr), Megachile mendica sn (Gr)
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericeus sn cp (Gr), Agapostemon virescens sn cp (Gr, Tll), Augochlorella striata sn (Gr), Halictus confusus sn (Gr), Halictus ligatus (WR), Halictus rubicundus sn (Gr), Lasioglossum coriaceum sn (Gr), Lasioglossum cressonii sn (Gr), Lasioglossum forbesii sn (Gr), Lasioglossum tegulare sn (Gr); Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes compactus sn (Gr); Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus modestus sn (Gr); Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena asteris sn cp olg (Gr), Andrena canadensis sn cp (Gr)
Wasps
Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila kennedyi sn (Gr), Prionyx atratus sn (Gr); Vespidae (Eumeninae): Parancistrocerus pedestris sn (Gr)
Flies
Syrphidae: Eristalinus aeneus (Gr), Eristalis anthophorina (Gr), Eristalis brousii (Gr), Eristalis dimidiata (Gr), Eristalis flavipes (Gr), Eristalis tenax (Gr), Eristalis transversa (Gr), Helophilus fasciatus (Gr), Helophilus latifrons (Gr), Platycheirus obscurus (Gr), Sphaerophoria contiqua (Gr), Spilomyia sayi (Gr), Syritta pipiens (Gr), Syrphus ribesii (Gr), Syrphus torvus (Gr), Toxomerus geminatus (Gr), Toxomerus marginatus (Gr), Tropidia quadrata (Gr); Conopidae: Thecophora abbreviata sn (Gr); Tachinidae: Spallanzania hesperidarum sn (Gr); Calliphoridae: Phormia regina (Gr), Pollenia rudis (Gr); Sarcophagidae: Sarcophaga sp. (Gr); Muscidae: Musca domestica (Gr), Neomyia cornicina (Gr), Stomoxys calcitrans (Gr)
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Danaus plexippus sn (Gr), Vanessa atalanta sn (Gr), Vanessa virginiensis sn (Gr); Pieridae: Colias philodice sn (Gr), Pieris rapae sn (Gr), Pontia protodice sn (Gr); Lycaenidae: Celastrina argiolus sn (Gr), Lycaeides melissa samuelis sn (Sw)
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Polites peckius sn (Gr, H)
Moths
Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera sn (Gr)
Beetles
Carabidae: Lebia solea (Gr); Chrysomelidae: Acalymma vittatum (Gr), Diabrotica undecimpunctata (Gr); Lampyridae: Ellychnia corrusca (Gr)